Parents of American hostage held by Hamas to address Republican convention

The parents of an American-Israeli citizen held hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip will address the Republican National Convention this week, pushing for efforts to secure the immediate and total release of approximately 120 hostages held by the group.

Ronen and Orna Neutra are the parents of 22-year-old Omer Neutra, a tank commander in the Israeli army who was kidnapped by Hamas during the Oct. 7 attack on Israel and has been in captivity for almost 300 days. 

The Neutras, who live on Long Island in New York will address the convention Wednesday.

Their remarks come as President Biden has said Hamas and Israel have agreed to the principles of a cease-fire deal, but negotiators continue to work out implementation details.

The three-phase cease-fire deal begins with a six-week pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas, during which Hamas would release hostages beginning with the most vulnerable, believed to be children, women, the elderly and those injured.

Hamas is holding at least eight Americans, including the bodies of those who had been killed, since they were kidnapped from southern Israel on Oct. 7. Two Americans, a mother and daughter, were released on Oct. 20 as part of a confidence-building measure for a larger hostage release that occurred over a weeklong period at the end of November. 

Former President Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has criticized the Biden administration as failing to secure the release of American hostages held by Hamas. He has not spoken in favor of a ceasefire, instead calling for Israel to “finish the job” in Gaza, and punting on whether he supports the creation of a Palestinian state — a key pillar of Biden’s three-phase cease-fire deal.